James Maynard Scoggin

Today we celebrate and remember the circle of life of beloved husband, father, and grandfather, Jim Scoggin who surprised his mother by entering the world in San Jose, California, in March during a train trip to see the grandparents-to-be in Washington that originated in Petoskey, Michigan where Jim’s mom (Elsie) and Jim’s dad (Joseph) resided at the time of Jim’s birth. After living a full life filled with wonderful adventures, travel, and success as the Manager of JCPenney stores in Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Kentucky, Jim completed his life’s journey by passing away peacefully the morning of July 7th, 2022, at his retirement home of 32 years in Avila Beach, California where he loved to say, at the beginning of each day, “… not a cloud in the sky” or “… another beautiful day in paradise.” While many friends and family members may remember Jim’s business acumen, mentoring abilities, and athletic skills in snow skiing, sailing, tennis, football, and golf, what we cherished most about Jim was his gift of knowing how to make us feel loved and appreciated in his presence, his ability to help us believe in ourselves and, most of all, believe that everything would be all right. His winning smile, sense of humor, and positive attitude never failed to light up a room and his eagerness to ask with genuine sincerity, “How can I help?” or “How can we fix this?” — and mean it -- and make good on his promise — no matter how tough the times or how challenging the circumstances — garnered Jim a multitude of loyal lifelong friends over his 92 years. It was also well known that Jim had a fierce loyalty to the University of Michigan - - especially for the University of Michigan football team -- as well as an ongoing optimistic belief that the University of Michigan football team would soon return to Pasadena for another victorious Rose Bowl win for his precious Victors. Proof of Jim’s lifelong loyalty to the University of Michigan, where he received his BA degree in business in 1952, begins as you enter his residence where a University of Michigan football helmet with the words M-Go Blue are prominently displayed under a spotlight followed by a variety of framed photos of University of Michigan football memorabilia throughout his home. A favorite closing to any phone, email, or text conversation with Jim during football season would always end with “Go Blue!” However, this did not preclude in any way Jim’s support for California teams or even for Wisconsin and Illinois teams — as long as they were not playing against his University of Michigan team. Jim either wore his University of Michigan hat or Detroit Tiger hat when out and about around the county of San Luis Obispo California and his hats were the hook and icebreaker that opened up many interesting conversations with strangers that soon became acquaintances and later new friends. Jim was a faithful loving husband for 53 years to his first wife who predeceased him, Janet Matthew Scoggin, and who was also mother to his 3 children and grandmother to his 4 grandchildren. Jim was a patient, kind, understanding, and generous father to his children and grandchildren who survive him: son, David Scoggin (Hilary Soller); daughter Sallie Scoggin; daughter Jennifer Scoggin (Marc Walley); granddaughter Katy Scoggin (Tyler Karling); grandsons Nathan and Edan Brichta; and grandson Cole Scoggin. Jim was always ready and proud to share photos and stories about his children and grandchildren’s lives, achievements, and successes. Jim is also survived by his 2nd wife of 8 years and friend of the family for 30 years, Sharon Kimball; his stepson Derek (Anita), his stepdaughter Kelly (Zack); step granddaughters Paloma and Sabrina; and step grandsons Sam and Myles. When asked in his twilight years if he had any advice for family, friends, and others on how to live a more joyful life or how to achieve a better and healthier longevity, Jim would pull out a yellowed clipping from a newspaper article written by an Ohio Mason entitled, “Love’s the Answer,” and read it aloud: “There is no difficulty that enough love will not conquer; no door that enough love will not open; no disease that enough love will not heal; no sin that enough love will not redeem; no guilt that enough love will not throw down. It makes no difference how deeply seated may be the trouble; how hopeless the outlook; how muddled the tangle; how great the mistake. A sufficient realization of love will dissolve it all.” Go Blue, Jim!! No public memorial service is planned. A private family interment will occur in Los Osos, California and Petoskey, Michigan. JCPenney friends and alumni may donate to the JCPenney H.C.S.C. Foundation at https://hcscfoundation.com/?page_id=390. In rememberance of Jim’s love for animals, family and friends who live in California may donate to Pacific Wildlife in Morro Bay https://www.pacificwildlifecare.org/make-a-donation/ or their local animal rescue rehabilitation organization. For family and friends who live in Michigan donations may be made to the Little Traverse Historical Museum in Petoskey, Michigan where Jim’s mom’s robe and crown are on display as she was crowned the first Snow Queen in Petoskey Michigan https://www.petoskeymuseum.org/donations.html. (Jim loved to tell the story about his mom’s double date with Ernest Hemingway, who also has a special display at this museum, as Hemingway’s family had and still has an estate on Walloon Lake known as Windemere.) For loyal alumni and friends of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Jim would love you to make a donation in his name for any of the funds listed on the University of Michigan Giving web site at https://leadersandbest.umich.edu/find/#!/ Go Blue, Jim